DECREASED LEVELS OF BETA-ENDORPHIN IN CIRCULATING MONONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES FROM PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Lymphocytes can be activated to produce and release opioid peptides. W e investigated the levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in peripher al blood mononuclear cells from 11 patients with acute myocardial infa rction. The concentrations of beta-endorphin in mononuclear leukocytes of 30.2 +/- 6.9 pg/10(6) cells on admission were in the normal range of 20-40 pg/10(6) cells and decreased significantly to 6.9 +/- 1.9 pg/ 10(6) cells after 48 h (p < 0.05). Decreased levels of mononuclear leu kocyte-associated beta-endorphin in acute myocardial infarction may be due to the release of endogenous opioid after stimulation by stress a nd acute-phase reactants and play a role in inflammation and pain.